Uproar in China and other Asian nations over ‘US spies through embassies’ report

China and a number of South Asian governments have demanded an explanation from Washington over allegations that US embassies - as well as embassies of US allies - were used for NSA surveillance.

The diplomatic row has been caused by the Sydney Morning Herald’s
report, which said the NSA collected its data in Asian countries
by having its equipment installed inside US embassies and also in
the diplomatic missions of the other ‘Five Eye’ nations, which
includes Australia, Britain and Canada.

Beijing said it was “extremely concerned” by the news and
was seeking clarification from the US.

"We also demand that foreign embassies in China and their
staff respect the Vienna Convention ... and other international
treaties and not get involved in any activities which do not
accord with their status or post and harm China's security and
interests," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua
Chunying, said on Thursday.

The news of the data collection facilities operating out of the
embassies in Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi, Bejing, and Dili was based
on the documents leaked by NSA whistleblower, Edward Snowden.

The news that the US agency carried out espionage through foreign
embassies has also provoked outrage in Indonesia, with the
country’s Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa, saying the issue
had been raised with the US chargé d'affaires in Jakarta.

"Indonesia cannot accept it and protests strongly over the
report about wiretapping facilities at the US embassy in
Jakarta," said Natalegawa cited by AP. "If confirmed, such
action is not only a breach of security, but also a serious
breach of diplomatic norms and ethics and certainly not in the
spirit of friendly relations between nations."

Indonesia also said it has summoned the Australian ambassador,
Greg Moriarty, to come to the foreign ministry on Friday. The
ministry added that he will face questions over the "totally
unacceptable" activities reported in the Sydney Morning
Herald.

"Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has demanded an
explanation from the Australian ambassador in Jakarta about the
existence and use of surveillance facilities in the Australian
embassy here," Indonesia's foreign ministry said in a
statement.

"The reported activities absolutely do not reflect the spirit
of a close and friendly relationship between the two neighbors
and are considered unacceptable by the government of
Indonesia."

The uproar was supported by other Asian nations. Malaysia’s
government promised to investigate the allegations, while the
opposition party issued a statement calling for the lodging of a
protest with the US and Australian embassies.

The government of Thailand informed the US that spying was a
crime under the country’s laws, according to Thai National
Security Council secretary general, Lt.-Gen. Paradorn
Pattanathabutr. The official blamed the US more than Australia,
Thailand’s closer neighbor.

“When it comes to technology and mechanics, the US is more
resourceful and more advanced than Australia,” he said.
“So I can say that it is not true that the Australian Embassy
will be used as a communications hub for spying.”
The outpour of criticism from Asia comes at a time when the US is
already under severe pressure from European nations, following
earlier reports disclosing the scale of surveillance there.

EU diplomats recently traveled to Washington to get explanations
concerning NSA spying. The US insisted all the intelligence gathered in Europe
was related to warzones in the Middle East and would continue.

In the wake of the NSA scandal, EU leaders have called for the
suspension of a trade pact with the US worth billions of dollars.